Normative data of corpus callosal morphology in a North-West Indian population- an autopsy and MRI study.

INTRODUCTION

Morphometric measurements of the corpus callosum (CC) are necessary to have normative values for studying sex, age and race related variations.

METHODS

Morphometry of the CC was done in preserved brain specimens and in MRI scans, in adults.The measurements included parameters like length, width, height of the cc, distances between genu and fornix, genu and anterior commissure, splenium and superior colliculus, distances from the different parts of the cc to the nearest cortical surfaces.

RESULTS

In the preserved brain group, the length CC was 6.98 cm (males) and 6.86 cm (females) while the corresponding values in the MRI group were 7.57 cm and 7.1 cm. The height CC was 2.15 cm (males) and 1.92 cm (females) in the preserved group, and 3.27 cm (males) and 2.59 cm (females) in the MRI group. The splenial width values were 1.12 cm (males) and 1.01 cm (female) in the preserved brains while the corresponding MRI values were 1.15 cm and 1.17 cm.

CONCLUSIONS

The values of different CC parameters observed were almost similar to the values reported in the other two Indian studies. However, Indian values were found to be more than the Japanese values for length, height and most of the widths of CC. The length and width of CC were found to be less than those of Caucasian population. Generation of this data will help in comparing the CC structure of different sex and ages, to study variations from the normal and may help in surgical planning.